Borderland Beat's Most Impactful Stories of 2024

War In Sinaloa Begins

The Arrest of “Mini Lic”

It has been rare that direct cartel connected violence in the US has occurred, however with the younger generations of narcos often having dual citizenship or traveling to the US often it was bound to happen.
Following internal wars in Tijuana between remnants of the CAF and Sinaloa Cartel cells, several high level traffickers relocated to the San Diego area in Southern California. Namely James Bryant Corona, “El Apache”, “El Chato” and “El Kado.” Several operators for “Flaquito.”

First, El Chato was shot and killed as he and another man (possibly Kado) were driving up to his luxury apartment complex. Months later, in Chula Vista, several shootings were connected with “El Apache” being injured outside of a Chili’s resturant and the attempted killing of a man in a nearby apartment.

The attackers in the latter shooting included a pair of 15 year olds who were later arrested and a man found killed on the grass outside of the apartment, having been shot by the victim inside.

El Chato Killed
El Apache Wounded

Killing of “El Chore”

A large scale military and police operation resulted in the death of 7 people in Sinaloa and the seizure of multiple transportation trucks and luxury vehicles. It was later confirmed that one of the dead during the operation was “El Chore” the Los Chapitos plaza boss in El Dorado, Sinaloa.

Subsequent interviews of a relative, Cecilia Carrasco, of some of the dead men and teenagers, claimed them to be innocent and that her younger son was killed while going to work at the site. However, Borderland Beat dove into the cartel family connections of the Carrasco family, long intertwined with trafficking activity in the area.

Military Operation

7 Confirmed Dead

Vehicles Seized

Family Interview

Exposing the Carrasco Narco Family

Capture of “La Kena”

Last year’s biggest story was the attack and kidnapping of several US citizens who had crossed the border. The surviving hostages were released, and the cartel apologized in their way by serving up the gunmen (or patsies) to Mexican authorities.

The leader in Matamoros, “La Kena,” fled to Monterrey where he was arrested in the beginning of the year. However, corruption soon came into play as a judge ordered his release but quickly, another stopped that order and he remains behind bars.

Menchito Found Guilty

It was believed, like many others, that the son of “El Mencho,” would cut a deal. This was in the process of happening when suddenly, he changed lawyers and revoked the possibility of a guilty plea. This year, he went to trial that saw several Milenio and CJNG traffickers, including relatives of his from Los Cuinis testify against him. Prosecutors showed that “Menchito” had been involved in trafficking and arms procurement since a young age and he even continued after being arrested in Mexico. He was found guilty and is likely to serve decades instead of years.

Menchito Found Guilty

Mencho’s Son-In-Law Faked Death & US Arrest

Not much later, the sudden arrest of the son in law of “El Mencho,” was arrested. But not in Mexico, but in a large home paid for by a Jalisco Tequila company where he had been living under a false identity since he and Laisha G, Mencho’s daughter had been suspected of ordering the kidnapping of two Mexican Marines following her mother’s arrest.

Details emerged that “El Mencho” himself helped to spread rumors he ordered the death of Cristian, allowing him to flee to the US where he was discovered after Mexico issued an Interpol Red Notice for his arrest.